Controller for electric signs



Apr. m, 1923. mum

F. C. REILLY CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Filed Oct. 15, 1918 2 sheets-sheet' 1 a! IL Apr. 10, 1923. 1,151,112

F. C. REILLY CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS- Filed Oct. 15, 1918 2 sheets -sheet 2 0000 0000 0000 00 o o e o o o o 0000 o o o .o 0 0'0 0 o o 0 o o Patented Apr. 10, 1323.

warren stares FRANK C. REILLY, OF NEW YORK,

team trace.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS.

Application filed October 15, 1918. Serial No. 258,286.

of moving electric sign known as a moto-.

graph.

The invention contemplates certain improvements over those shown, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,119,371, patented December 1, 1914. 4

One of the objects of the invention is to provide new and improved means for storing or carrying thebulk of an endless band or ribbon of perforated insulating ma-,

terial employed in a machine of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for carrying or storing the endless band or ribbon and conducting it from contact devices, and for returning it again to said contact devices, such that the slack of the ribbon is taken up and is prevented from becoming tangled or torn, or otherwise injured, thus lncreasing the life of the ribhon, and minimizing the cost of operation of the machine.

A still further. object of the invention is to provide a carrying or storing means for the contact operating band or ribbon which permits of the ready insertion of the latter into the machine, and also permits a ready removal of said band or ribbon from the machine.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part'obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing my improved machine.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective upon an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the apparatus; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, showing the manner of supporting the contact fingers.

Referring now tothe drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereof, the reference numeral 1 denotes the frame of the machine, the same comprising four uprights or risers, which are mounted upon base plates 2, said frame being substantially rectangular in form and suitably braced so that it presents a rigid structure. The frame carries at its upper end a super-structure 3, upon which is mounted certain ofthe operative parts of the apparatus. Extended between the upper rails 4 of the frame, and suitably journalled between .said

rails, is-a series of rolls 5,: which (rolls form" carriers for the upper convolutions oi' bends of the perforated endless band or ribbon 6, which determines the operation of the contact devices.

7 indicates a frame comprising a side bar 8 and a rod 9, and an end bar '10. This frame is pivotally mounted upon brackets 11 carried by the uprights which form a portion of the frame. Frame 7 carries a plurality of rolls 12 journalled upon shafts 13. Each of shafts 13 is provided with an aperturedhead portion, through which extends the rod 9, so that each roll has an independent pivotal mounting whereby they may be rocked or swung to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The opposite ends'of the shafts 13 are adapted, when the rolls are in normal position, to rest in grooves or slots 15, provided in the side bar 8, the construction being such that when the rolls are in normal position they lie parallel with the rolls 5 carried in the upper portion of the frame. The endless band 6 runs backward and forward over these rolls so that the entire part of such band between the contact board, hereafter to be described, is stored or carried within the frame upon the rolls ready to be drawn therefrom and carried over the contact board. The movable end of the frame 7 is suspended by means of a chain 16 from a hanger 17 supported upon the rear portion of the frame, an adjusting screw 18 being interposed in the connection of the chain 16 and the hanger, and I preferably provide a spring held scale 19 in such connection so that the amount of tension or strain exerted N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH I. KOPPEEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

the various lamps.

by the chain 16 upon the frame 7 may be determined. i

The object of the construction next above described is to provide means whereby any desired amount of tension may be put upon the endless band as the same is passing in its convolute form over and between the two series of rolls.

20 indicates a roll journalled upon the.

shafts which rests in brackets 21 carried upon the uprights of the forward part of the machine, and the endless band 6, after passing through the last of the uppermost series of rolls,'travels downward and then passes about the roll 20, whence it passes upward through the contact devices.

Referring now to the contact making or switch apparatus, the reference numeral 22 denotes what may be termed a brush-plate, said plate being carried upon the frame of the inachine, and extending through this plate are the terminal members 23; it being understood that a terminal'member is provided for each of the lamps, or groups of lamps, upon the display board 24; lead wires connecting the terminal members 23 with -lllach of the terminal members 23, at its inner end, carries a contact finger or brush 25, which is inserted in a slot 26 formed in the inner end of the contact member, and clamped in position therein as by means of the clamp nut 27.

Located directly behind the brush block 22 is a commutator board 28, which is formed of insulating material, and provided with a plurality of blocks 29, each of which is in dependently mounted uponsaid board, and each of which is connected with one side of the electrical supply system. The brushes or contact fingers 25 are spring urged in the direction of the blocks 29, it being understood that when the brushes are engaged with the adjacent commutator sections a circuit is closed to the lamps on the display board.

The perforated band 6 in the present instance is passed in an upward direction between the brush board 22, and the contact members of the commutator board 28, and each brush and its contact point is held out of electrical connection by. theimperforated parts of the band. When, however, one of the pe'rforationsof the moving band is in registry with the end of the brush and its contact block, the circuit .is closed through the lamp with which said elements are electrically connected. Thus the movement of the band upward through the machine, and through this control mechanism, operates selectively to open and close'thecircuits of the lamps upon the display board.

The endless band or ribbon t}, after passing through the controlling apparatus just described, passes over the roll 30, whence it at e driving mechanism comprising carried upon the mounting 34s is adapted to engage with the ribbon after it has passed between the rollers 31'and 32 and putthe required amount of tension thereon. This tension roller may be adjusted by any desired means. a

A switch 41 suitably pivoted at 42 above the ribbon as it passes over the rollers 30 and 31; has a part 43 which is adapted to rest upon the length of ribbon between these two rollers, the construction being such that when the ribbon is taut the parts of the switch remain in the position shown in Figure 10f the-drawings. In the event, however, of the ribbon breaking, this switch member is adapted by gravity to fall downwardly, whereby the switch will be operated to open a circuit breaker in and stop operation of the machine and display.

Having thus described this embodiment of my invention, the manner in which the same operates, which should be largely 0bvious, may now be understood:

Tn threading the ribbon through the machine, it is merely necessary to pass over the upper series of rollers depressing loops of the perforated ribbon between the rollers so that the ribbon hangs in convolute form in the frame of the machine. Each convolution may then be pulled downwardly and the roll 12, directly thereunder, swung downwardly to engage the inside of the loop formed by the ribbon. When all the rolls, or such number of them as is necessary to accommodate a particular length of ribbon. have been engaged therewith, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, a locking-member 44, pivoted to the rail 8, may be swung to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, so that the flange 45 thereof will pass over the ends of the shafts 13 of the rollers,; thereby preventing them from swinging upwardly under the tension of the ribbon. This locking member may be held in the position shown as by means of the key 46.

Thus itwill be seen'that ribbons of various lengths may be employed in the apparatus and effectively carrie by reason of the fact that one or more of the rolls may be movedinto inoperative position. Moreover, the ad usting screw 18 of the hanger device 16 may be employed to raise or lower the entire frame 7 to meet difierent requirements It will accordingly be seen that I have provided a construction well adapted to attain, among others,.all the aims and objects above pointed out, in an exceedingly simple yet eflicient manner. By means of this construction the slack of an endless band of ribbon, such as employed in such machines,

may be effectively taken up and the ribbon I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In controlling apparatus for electric signs, the combinationwith switching apparatus provided with a plurality of contacts, of an endless perforated band adapted selectively to determine the operation of the contacts of said switching apparatus, means for moving said band through said switching apparatus, a plurality or series of rolls which support and hold the unused or slack portion of said band in convolute form as it passes toward or from said switching apparatus, a fixed support for one of said series of rolls, and a movable 'supportffor another of saidseries of rolls, the individual members of said last named series of rolls being bodily movable, whereby they may be disengaged from the convoluted portions of. said band. i i

2. In controlling apparatus for electric signs, the combination with switching apparatus provided with a plurality of contacts, of an endless'perforatedband adapted selectively to determine the operation of the, contacts of said switching apparatus, means for moving said band through said switching apparatus, two series of rolls about which the unused or slack portion of said band passes on its journey toward and from said switching apparatus, a fixed support for one of said series of rolls, a hinged frame for supporting the other of said series of rolls, and means for adjustably supporting one end of said hinged frame, and the individual members of said series of rolls of said hinged frame being pivotally mounted so that they may be swung into and out of engagement with said band.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK O. REILLY.

Witnesses:

FRED EVANS, EMMA Wmmmae. 

